(FinalCall.com) -- Teaching lessons in atonement to men and women in the "belly of the beast" seemed appropriate on the morning of Oct. 16, considering that "Jonah" means "dove"�the sign Minister Farrakhan chose for the Holy Day of Atonement.

The National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad addressed the male and female divisions of the Cook County Department of Corrections. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan�s Assistant Minister Ishmael Muhammad keynoted the program for the male inmates and the incarcerated women enjoyed remarks by Chicago Prison Reform representatives Sisters Marilyn Muhammad and LaWeeda Muhammad during their program.

"If we practice atonement, it will have a universal impact," said Sister Marilyn whose opening remarks focused on the power of forgiveness to bring about healing within the atonement process.

"Most of us look at the Day of Atonement as a day of Muslims. But if you go back to the day it was set up, that beautiful and holy day, this is a day for every individual on the planet and it is very much needed," she added.

Further memories recalled by Sister LaWeeda of the Historic Million Man March in 1995 encouraged the women to take time to reflect on God and Minister Farrakhan. "This man is a divine man with a divine word coming out of his divine mouth," she said.

Nearly 100 women sat electrified in the gymnasium in response to her question, "Who else could call a million plus men on a work day?" She walked the sisters through the eight steps of atonement and the importance of reconciliation and responsibility, the major themes Min. Abdullah discussed with the sisters.

"Once you run into the secret of God, you learn the value of yourself as a woman and your relationship to God and man, and to each other. Then you must accept your role and responsibility today," said Min. Abdullah as he extended a challenge to the women to look within themselves and see how they can, in the words of Jesus, �Go and sin no more.�

"You must sacrifice your life to do nothing else but the Will of God," he concluded. "We are bound by what we do and not what we say."

Serving double duty, Min. Abdullah addressed approximately 100 male inmates following the program for the sisters. Those brothers who came with their Bible searched through the scriptures as Min. Ishmael taught, nodding with recognition of the insight that he brought them. Ahmed Muhammad, son of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, watched the faces and expressions of the brothers throughout the program.

"The brothers were extremely inspired. The spirit was so liberating. They were so uplifted, it was like they weren�t even in prison anymore," he shared.